Omaha daily bee., 1887-07-18
An Investigation Begun.

LINCOLN, Neb., July III Special Tele.
yram to the BEE. t-rhe county coroner de.
.ded this morning that he would hold an
Inquest over the remains of Dr. Max Randall.
burned In the b. & M. wreck, and work upon
the same commenced in the afternoon. The
demand that the inquest be held was wide
spread, and the belief was common that
there should bs no hidden secrets confined to
IN investigation held by the company, but
that the matter should be understood for the
public good. One of the county commission
srs placed himself in the wretched position
that the investigation would be expensive
and was therefore unnecessary. A written
opinion from one of the railway commits
IiOners was given the coroner. and the in
quest was then decided upOn and list of
names furnished the deputy sheriff for
Jurors
lowing jurors: Austin Humphrey, w. G.
Lane, q. G. Jerome, q. b. Beach, Major Bo-
nanaD and c. 9. Pace. The body of the dead
man was brought to the office. examined and
Identified. A large number of B. u NJ. en-
ployes were present and two of them posted
themselves on each side of the coroner to
1t was noticeable that the answers to these
questions always showed up we'll for the
company. William -Cornwell, conductor,
and Deland and Lobby. braksmen on
we're examined. Their testimony was much
Rs has been heretofore published In q general
way and added little light to tho subject.
They had the right TO the track and were
nearly stopped when they found the other
train coming on them. The testimony OF f.
e. RowbOltom, the operator at HavelOck,
showed that he was an entirely new man;
that he bad no experience on train work on
this road, and but three weeks experience
elsewhere, lie received the order to hold
the train, and young man In the depot. not
in the employ of the road, turned the signal
platform to see IL the train came to a halt,
but after 1t passed he notified the Lincoln
office. After this evidence, and before any
of the principal witnesses or those on the
train who were to blame were heard, an ad-
iomrnment was taken to $ o'clock.
When the corOner's jury recOnyened In the
evening Judge Mason appeared for the rail-
road commissioners and the hearing was ad-
JUDE coddacted ID thee the examinations. % % Con condac, .
tor Norton and his brakeman on Engineer
Bowser's train, testified that as they were
passing Havelock that they saw the danger
signal and Immediately commenced setting
brakes. the brakeman running to the head OF
the train to notify the engineer. The train,
however was not stODped before the collision
Engineer Dowser's testimony was straight.
forward. He said they received orders al
Waverly, and as they neared Hayelock he
watched the signal and it was white. indica
ting clear track. He watched 1t as the en-
gine passed the depot before reaching the
station. The fireman and himself had
noticed light down the track, but did moi
locate it as an incoming train. A quarter OF
mile beyond the depot he saw 1t was &
train and he whistled brakes, but could moi
stop in time. He staid on his engine.
Judge Mason then recalled the operator a
the depot, and among other things showed
that il was his first night ON duty or IL
charge of station to receive and send Ou
orders; that he had emily three weeks expe
rience In that work in Dakota, and hat
Western Union Oflce In Lincoln at SS5
month; that he did not turn the signal hin,
self, but q young man In the Office did. l
was rigid examination compared with tn
at II p. IN. 10 complete work the next day,